The town council delayed long awaited action by that could lead to reopening the town’s shooting range because of a last-minute possible review by another state agency of a negotiated land swap. Some council members also switched, or were wavering on, their previous support of the land deal and the range reopening.

Several citizens also spoke against the range before the scheduled action at the Aug. 8 council meeting.

After learning at the meeting that the state Division of Conservation Services had not signed a memorandum of understanding with the town for the land swap, the council voted 8 to 3 to postpone action until Sept. 18.

Town Attorney Ruth Weil confirmed that there was a question of whether the state Environmental Protection Agency is required to review the land deal. “Nothing can be finalized until the memorandum is executed,” she said.

Robert O’Connor, director of Conservation Services, further explained that his agency was looking at whether the MEPA has to review the agreement. He said he wasn’t aware of that possibility until recently.

O’Connor said his agency supports the land swap of 16.3 acres of the West Barnstable conservation area where the range is currently located for a 17-acre parcel on Breeds Hill Road in Barnstable. The shooting range would then revert to municipal land that would allow the town to run it.

“We will sign the memorandum of understanding,” O’Connor said, pending the resolution of the other possible review.

Councilors Phil Wallace and Paul Hebert, who stated strong opposition to the land swap earlier in the meeting, and Councilor Debra Dagwan, who said she was undecided, wanted to proceed with the vote. However, Councilor Jim Crocker said he was uncomfortable with acting until the review issue is resolved.

“This is not the right way to handle your real estate,” he said. “We have promised everyone that we have a memorandum of understanding.”

Councilor John Norman also supported the postponement, saying a decision should not be based on emotion. “We have a responsibility to due diligence,” he said. “I want it [the range] open or resolved. Let’s do it the right way.”

Norman also noted that two councilors, Sara Cushing and Eric Steinhilber, were not at the meeting for the two-thirds required approval on the land deal.

Wallace gave a long statement during officials’ communications explaining his decision not to support the land swap. The shooting range is in his precinct.

He said he conducted his own research among his constituents and real estate agents to understand the impact of taking the range out of conservation protection.

“Being close to conservation land has a positive effect,” he said, but being close to the shooting range had a costly effect on his constituents’ home values, especially those within a mile and a quarter of the range.

“My constituents are paying a high price for this range,” Wallace said, citing an unidentified couple on Capes Trail who had two purchase offers pulled on their house when the buyers were notified of the proximity of the shooting range.

Wallace noted that 622 gun permits were sold to residents while 250 homes are affected by the range. “It’s too expensive for my constituents,” he said. “I cannot support this land swap for that reason.”

Hebert said his opposition to the swap was the liability to the town, which he said, “is beyond my comprehension.” He said he is relying on “the wisdom of the state.” The state Legislature must also approve the land deal by a two-thirds vote.

Dagwan said she has received many calls about the shooting range and appreciates its use for firearms safety training. However, she said, “It’s a tough decision. Up to a week ago I was in favor of reopening [the range], but now I’m leaning both ways. We need to balance the costs.”

Other councilors indicated their continued support of the gun range and pointed out the benefits of turning the Breed’s Hill parcel into conservation land. Council Vice President Ann Canedy, whose precinct includes that parcel, noted that it was originally purchased for water quality protection and the Breeds Hill parcel is within the wellhead recharge area, which flows to two active wells. The Barnstable Fire District and Water Division also recommended in 2012 converting the parcel and other adjacent parcels to conservation land.

Canedy also said the parcel includes wetlands, endangered species and is “ecologically and environmentally important.”

The shooting range has been closed since Dec. 11, 2012, when the town learned it was not covered by the town’s insurance. The insurance has been acquired and the town has instituted new safety standards for the range, Assistant Town Manager Mark Ells told the council. The conservation commission also voted on June 24 to relinquish its control of the range to the town, he said.

The reopening of the range has elicited strong views on both sides over the past year and a half, and that continued at the last council meeting.